Golf blinder



Sept. 4, 1928. 1,683,505

7 N. S. WALKER GOLF BLINDER Filed March 5, 1927 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED srar s resists; I

oetics.

NORMAN STEWART W'ALKEB, OF NEW YORK, N. TC, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOLFADA COM- I PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GOLF BLINDER.

This invention relates to golf blinders and I use this term blinder advisably as the function of the device is to limit the vision of the user.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to be worn in the form of goggles, or in any other manner supported in front of the eyes of the user, and I provide sight openings through which a golf player may observe the ball and a limited area around the sameto enable him to properly see the ball in driving but which when the head is raised in an attempt to follow the flightof the ball will automatically close the sight opening.

My invention has many advantages, some of which may be enumerated as follows:

First, I provide gravity operated shutters to close the sight openings and prevent'the player from seeing the ball after it has been hit, the theory beingthat the common fault of head lifting will be minimized or eliminated if the cause, namely, a subconscious desire to see the flight of the ball, is removed. It is a well known fact that in a practice swing with no ball the head is never lifted and the swing is generally free and easy. Instruction as to stance, pivoting, position of hands, feet, etc., is most essential, but all such instruction is nullified if the head is lifted too soon. With my improved device I provide relatively small sight openings through which the player sees the ball, and this limited vision tends to concentration on the ball, shutting off the various objects of the neighborhood which detract his attention.

Furthermore, I provide stops or other means for limiting the pivotal movement of the shutters to prevent their swinging or oscillating when the player is looking down at the ball.

Furthermore, I provide means whereby the shutters may be held in elevated position to allow the user to have such vision as may be desired and move from place to place without the necessity of removing the blinders, and permit the shutters to function automatically during the driving or hitting operation only.

It is to be understood of course that the blinders or goggles may be worn only when hitting the ball or as much as desired, and the device may take many forms such as an attachment for glasses or spectacles. and be supported on the head in any desired manner.

Itherefore do not limit myself to the particular form of device illustrated and here-, inafter described, as my invention consists of novel features of construction and combina tions and arrangements of parts which function to form the results above enumerated and as more specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings 7 Figurel is a view in section through one of the blinder elements, showing the same in position when the user is looking downwardly at the ball;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position of the device when the head is lifted;

Figure 3 is a front elevation showing the goggles in which my improved blinder elements are incorporated.

1 represents a pair of goggles, which I have shown as supporting my improved blinders 2, 2, which may be of metal or any other suit able material, and fit the frames of the goggles. These blinders 2 have relatively small sight openings 3, and shutters 4 are located so as to swing over and close the sight openings.

These shutters i are pivotally supported at their upper ends in frames 5 which are fixed to the disks or blinders 2, and shoulders or enlargements 10 are formed on the frames 5 vto limit the upwardswinging or pivotal movement of the shutters so as to prevent them from swinging or oscillatingv when the user is looking at the ball, as indicated in Figure 1.

I also preferably provide a shutter elcvating device 6 which is in the form of a crank shaft mounted in bearings 7 on the respective disks 2, and having crank arms 8 located under and positioned in recesses 9 in the under faces'of the shutters. The intermediate portion of the crank shaft 6 is bowed or curved as shown so as to provide a finger gripping portion to allow the shaft to be readily turned so as to swing the shutters to open position and hold them elevated as long as may be desired.

It is to be understood that the shaft 6 has a sufficient frictional engagement with bearing 7 to prevent it from accidentally turning, although any other suitable means may be provided for this purpose. I provide this elevating device 6 so as to permit the operator to hold the shutters elevated when not engaged in striking a ball and allow him to release the shutters Whenever he desires tostrike the ball.

As illustrated in Figure 1, when striking the ball the head is lnclined and the shutters 4 will hang in open position, but if any at:

tempt is made to raise the head so as to follow the flight of the ball the shutters will automatically close, as indicated in Figure 2.

WVhile I have illustrated what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the partsdescribed without departing from my invention and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider 'iyself at liberty to make such changes and cured to the device above the opening, an

unbalanced shutter pivotally mounted in the bracket and mounted to swing freely and move by gravity to closed position and a stop, on the bracket limiting the swinging movement of the shutter.

4. A device of the character described, including a support and a pair of opaque blinders located in the support and having sight openings therein, shutters hingedly connected to the blinders at a point above the openings and mounted to swing freely and move by gravity to closed position, and means for maintaining the shutters in elevated position.

5. A device of the character described, includiuga support and a pairof opaque blinders located in the support and having sight openings therein, shutters hingedly connected r to the blinders at a point above the openings, bearings on the blinders, and a crank shaft mounted in the bearings, the intermediate portion of said crank shaft constituting a tingerhold and the ends of said shaftconstituting crank arms engaging under the shutters.

NORMAN STEWART WVALKER. 

